OpenClaw founder joins OpenAI

Peter Steinberger, the founder of the open-source AI assistant OpenClaw, is joining OpenAI, while the project itself will transition into an independent foundation, the companies announced on Sunday.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, posted on X that Steinberger is joining the company "to drive the next generation of personal agents." Altman added that OpenClaw "will live in a foundation as an open source project that OpenAI will continue to support."

OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant that runs on users' own devices and integrates with messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, and Slack. It can perform tasks such as managing emails and checking in for flights.

The project has grown rapidly since its November launch, receiving over 100,000 stars on GitHub and attracting 2 million visitors in a single week, according to a blog post by Steinberger. Its popularity has also drawn scrutiny, with China's industry ministry warning that improper configuration could expose users to security risks.

Steinberger stated in a blog post that keeping OpenClaw open source was important to him. "Ultimately, I felt OpenAI was the best place to continue pushing on my vision and expand its reach," he wrote.